Miss Washington Week: Days 1 & 2

THE FUN......HAS ARRIVED!!!!

8 days, ladies and gentlemen!  8 days of craziness and fun, at the end of which we will have our Miss Washington 2012!  Those 8 days have finally arrived and are at our fingertips!

Miss Washington week takes place in Renton, just 15 minutes south of Seattle.  All week the contestants are housed in a hotel, and keep an incredibly busy schedule leading up to the competition, which takes place this coming Friday (preliminary night with all 22 contestants) and Saturday (final night with the Top 10).

All 22 Miss Washington 2012 contestants!

 

Day 1:

My official badge for the week!

The fun began on Sunday evening with wardrobe check-in.  All of the contestants were to bring their competition wardrobe (including all shoes, jewelery and undergarments) in a single garment bag and suitcase, and sign for their contents before handing them over.  In exchange for our competition wardrobe, we received our official badge for the week which gives us "full access" to the events/stage on-going through the 8 days.  Through this exchange of wardrobe and badges, though, is also when the contestants got to see each other for the first time since Spring Forum, and BOY was there excitement in the air!!

After checking in, we all then changed and prepped for our official "arrival" at the Miss Washington Premier Sponsor: Brotherton Cadillac in Renton.  At the official arrival, each contestant was announced one at a time, and then given a chance to shake hands with the mayor or Renton and pose for pictures.  After our introductions, we all posed for group shots and signed autographs.

Signing autographs alongside Reina, Miss Yakima County at Arrival.

Following our "arrival", we returned to the hotel and checked into our rooms, and at that point were all officially checked into Miss Washington week!  Meaning, we had all entered into the 24/7 lockdown.  During this week, the 22 contestants are not allowed anywhere, not even the restroom, with out an escort.  Cell phones and computers can not leave our hotel rooms, and our schedules are full nearly 14 hours a day, so "down time" in the room with our phones, etc. is severely limited, if not non-existent some days.  BUT, for bonding time with the other contestants, this is truly not such a terrible thing!

Next up, we had our first of many rehearsals.  Followed by dinner, and then another rehearsal!  At 10 pm, we returned to our hospitality room (where all meals are served) for a midnight snack, and finally bed time!


Day 2:

The day started off with an early morning dance rehearsal, and it was at this rehearsal that my dancing skills (or lack there of), finally began to creep their way out.  Fortunately, I was/am not alone in my struggling in this aspect, but Daniela (Miss Northwest, and another piano player) shared in my amazing skill (or, again, lack there of).  But, after some reassuring breaths, valiant effort put forth, and the teasing threat that we would give everyone a piano lesson that they had to keep up with (I mean, hey, if piano players have to learn to dance for the pageant, shouldn't the dancers have to learn piano?), we ended rehearsal and headed up for lunch (Applebee's) and to get ready for our visit to the Seattle Children's Hospital.

Break time during rehearsal.  Rehearsals are often VERY long, but always fun!

Riding in our group bus!

We all rode our little bus to the Children's Hospital (singing the Miss Congeniality "Our Lady Liberty" song on the way, of course), and once there spent time with the patients and their siblings.  I had an incredible time teaching a 15 year old girl (with no previous music background) a basic jazz scale, and had her jam up an octave from where I played some background jazz chords.  After a little bit, we were impressively good together and ended up having some background dancers (both patients and other queens) for our jam session!

Later, with the great generosity of the hospital staff, I was able to head up to the dialysis unit and spend time with a 4 year old boy there, who, while I was sitting next to him did not want to talk directly to me much, but once I tried to leave, truly did not want me to.

Our group outside the Seattle Children's Hospital.

After many shared laughs and stories with the young patients, we all loaded back up in our bus and headed back for dinner.  Of course, while we are all trying desperately hard to keep our swimsuit bodies in swimsuit shape, the delivered dinner was from Olive Garden....complete with delicious breadsticks.  Sigh.  Why do they do this to us?!?! ;)  It truly is incredible though, the delicious donated food we get.  I just wish I had an easier time saying "no thank you" :).

The group in the hospitality room, where we eat all our meals.

After dinner we had more rehearsal, and again ended with a snack and bedtime.



So far, this week has been filled with incredible friendships being made (I am absolutely blown away by the character of some of the ladies here), and way too much incredible food ;).  I am so overwhelmingly spoiled to be here, and thank you for all of your support!

We are all headed to the gift room now, where we head every day to pick up any items left for us by family/supporters.  This is a great time for all (but perhaps admittedly more so for those with family/friends nearby, or with those with families familiar with and supportive of pageantry....large bouquets of flowers, letters and more are common sights).  My first day, I received an awesome cozy blanket from my director, and yesterday received several small, awesome gifts, including two autograph pens which I have been in DESPERATE need of this week!!!  (Oops, on my packing fault, but someone must've known ;)!!)  My friend, Shannon, also dropped me off some awesome additional wardrobe items, and an amazingly encouraging note.  I have also received little knickknacks from other contestants and volunteers I have gotten to know, and each and every one makes me smile and want to keep on the keeping on!

Thank you to everyone who has been involved in any way!  Having friends behind me - even by way of awesome little Facebook notes - makes this week just that much more exhilarating.  Thank you for your support!!